New C6 Aluminium Wheels

[Edward S.]

I just purchased a new coupe with aluminium wheels and in reading the owners manual it says do not use chrome polish on the wheels - it does not go into detail how to care for them? Has anyone found any methods of cleaning, I don't want to use something that will mar them. Any help would sure be appreciated. Thanks.

[Tom H.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

Hot soapy water and maybe a mild cleaner usually work well. They hold up well and clean up real good !!!

I use simple green and a bug sponge if they get really dirty. Just nothing abraisive.

[Terry M.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

Amen to Tom's comments.

I use the same soap that I use to wash the body of the car. Do the body first and then use the remaining soapy water on the wheels.

Brake dust is a real PITA for me on the new car, but I have found a Swifter duster works well to clean the wheels after a drive. If I keep up with them after every drive, it is not so hard to clean them when I wash the car.

Those wheels are clear coated, as are my painted wheels. You don't want to use anything abrasive on that clear coat.

[Chris E.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

I agree with Terry's comments, although I used to use a California Duster. Worked GREAT! I wound up getting a hand-sized California Duster exclusively for the wheels, and then a big one for the whole car, and a small one for the interior.

Highly recommended.

[Steven B.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

We recently bought another kind of Chevy with Al. wheels. I use nothing but warm carwash soap and water. It has worked very well.

[Edward S.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

Everyone thanks for your help, I figured on using a liquid. I guess I will go with Simple Green or what seems to be getting everyone's pick Dawn. Terry, you are right the brake dust is a buster - I use a swifter also to wipe it down before I cover it. Due to the wheels I started to use the new 360 refills and like them alot - or is it that I am just getting older and love the long flexible handle, sure does away with a lot of bending.
Once again thanks everyone.

[Tom H.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

You can wax the wheels. Just use a nice wax like you use on the car. Makes wheel cleanup a little easier.

[Terry M.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

Good point Tom. I forgot to mention "wax the wheels" in my earlier post. Rejex seems to be a favorite -- and it is what I used. Two applications 24 hours apart with the wheels off the car so I could get front and ib the barrel of the wheel. I'll probably do it again before this driving season starts. That stuff is real slippery and helps keep the brake dust off.

I think I got it at Advance Auto, but there are lots of on-line sources. Google or your favorite search engine is your friend.

[Duke W.]

Re: New C6 Aluminium Wheels

For at least the last 20 years modern OE aluminum wheels have had a urethane clear coat applied to them. It's thin, though durable, but any abrasive type cleaner will erode the thin urethane film away and leave bare aluminum, which will quickly oxidize and dull.

Treat the aluminum wheels like the body paint - wash with soap and water and occasionally treat them to a coat of abrasive free wax. And it's okay to use mild solvents like paint thinner to remove bits to tar that the wheels inevitably pick up. The urethane is catalyzed and is impervious to most organic solvents except things like carburetor cleaner and "parts cleaner" (the real strong stuff that you soak parts in that dissolves hard deposits) and acetone. Also avoid "wheel cleaner" products, which are usually designed to clean bare, uncoated aluminum wheels. They are often mild phosphoric acid solutions. Soap and water, a mild solvent, and wax is all you should ever need to keep them looking good.

I always wash the wheels last so I don't end up washing the body with brake dust contaminated soapy water.

Duke